Debra Janette Folkerts,Karen Louise Finstrom McPhee,Gregory Ray Johnson,Timothy Martin Gack
申请号：
US12238433
公开号：
US08439845B2
申请日:
2008.09.25
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2013
代理人:
摘要：
A system and method is disclosed for measuring muscle reflexes (e.g., a bulbocavernosus reflex) as a tool for identifying/diagnosing dysfunctions (e.g., spinal cord abnormalities, bladder voiding dysfunction, and sexual organ dysfunction) non-invasively by using mechanical stimulation. The system and method includes a probe having a predetermined patient contacting portion, wherein when the contacting portion is moved into contact with a particular area of the patient (e.g., the patients genitals), the contact induces a muscle reflex. The probe detects the pressure resulting from the contacting portion being abruptly and forcibly brought into contact with the particular area. Such detection is used to electronically initiate capture of electrical responses from a plurality of electrodes placed on the patients skin in proximity to the particular area. Such electrical responses are processed to determine characteristics of the patients reflexes of one or more muscles adjacent to the electrodes.
